Whole Bean
Roast: Medium
Recommended Rest: 2-3 weeks from roast date
Tasting Notes: hazelnut, chocolate liqueur, cherry jam

Origin Details

Region: Popayan, Cauca, Colombia
Elevation: 1740-2080masl
Producer: Smallholder Farmers, Banexport Project
Process: Honey
Variety: Castillo

ABOUT THIS COFFEE AND PRODUCER

Coffee cultivation from small family owned farms is the backbone of production in Colombia.  Banexport, a Colombian export company, works directly with these producers who have a shared commitment for exquisite farm management practices, and loving care for their farms and the environment. Banexport helps producers gain access to technical support regarding best practices for farm management and cupping feedback, which helps producers improve the quality of their coffee.  The model of collaborative effort produces traceable community blends with vibrant regional profiles.

This community blend is traceable to 4 producers with small farms in the municipality of Popayán within the department of Cauca. Each producer carefully harvests cherries and delivers them to a centrally located mill where Banexport takes on the task of post harvest processing. The centralized processing allows for a greater investment in infrastructure and consistent processing. Banexport uses technology to sort cherries based on pH, Brix, and acidity testing before depulping the cherries. Next the coffee is fermented in sealed bioreactors where the microbial environment can be controlled. Once fermentation has been completed, the coffee drying process is started, skipping the washing stage to conserve water. Drying is done in a controlled environment where temperature is kept in a range of 30 to 35 degrees and compressed air with a low relative humidity is circulated through the solar dryers to achieve slow and uniform drying. When coffee reaches 10.5 percent, it is stored in grainpro bags until the time for export preparation.

WHY WE SELECTED THIS COFFEE

Bringing back a completely different profile from the Banexport project in Colombia.

This time it’s a honey processed Castillo with a much bigger and richer presentation centered around fruit jam sweetness and deep chocolate flavors. The roast profile was developed to balance dense chocolate liquor notes with a sweet cooked cherry jam character that carries through the cup.

Right away there is also a hazelnut pastry quality on the palate that adds warmth and softness to the structure of the coffee.

Compared to the previous Banexport releases, this one is more punchy and grounded, built as an everyday drinker with a strong focus on espresso. It holds up beautifully in milk while still keeping enough sweetness and fruit to stay lively on its own.

Really excited to share this version of the project.